SiCKO is a powerful diagnosis of what's wrong with American healthcare
Michael Moore's latest film, a devastating indictment of the American healthcare system, opens today in theaters across the Pacific Northwest. If you can possibly spare a couple hours this weekend, go see this film. You will be saddened. You will be angered. You may also be inspired to work for change.
I've already seen SiCKO, but haven't been able to sum up my thoughts to write anything about it until today. It's hard to sum up how compelling this documentary is. Even if you've heard many healthcare horror stories, you will be still be gritting your teeth and holding back tears as you watch other Americans struggle to tell their stories of losing loved ones thanks to the beast that is the for profit health insurance industry (and the drug industry, as well).
SiCKO has reinforced my belief (if that's possible) that healthcare for everyone is a right, not a privilege. As John Kerry said in his stump speeches back in 2004, it shouldn't just be a benefit for the wealthy, the elected, and the connected.
Healthcare should be free and universal. No one should have to fight the system, or a system, to get treatment. The answer to every conservative sputter about "socialized medicine" is one word: Unacceptable. Unacceptable, unacceptable, unacceptable. Those phony arguments won't cut it.
Those scare tactics won't work. What we've got is NOT functioning.
This is the richest country on Earth. This is a community of free people. A democracy! There is no reason that any one of us - any American - should be suffering and struggling because of health care costs, because of denied claims, because of high premiums and fees. Everyone should be taken care. of Needs should be met, regardless of ability to pay.
We need a healthcare system that reflects our values. Traditional American values. Not right wing fantasies about free markets and pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. None of that libertarian, conservative nonsense. If they want to talk about family values, then let's talk about real family values.
For example, values that mean our elderly parents and grandparents should be able to stop working and retire, and not be forced to sell their homes and live with their children because of skyrocketing medical bills.
The conservative view is that everybody should be on their own. And that's how it is today with out healthcare system. Can't pay? Even if you worked to clear rubble from Ground Zero? Too bad, you're on your own. Don't have health insurance? Too bad, you're on your own. It's your fault, you didn't work hard enough. Got hit with a string of misfortunes? Too bad, you're on your own.
The progressive view is different. We believe in nurturance. We believe in protection, care, community...a common wealth. Mutual responsibility. There's an understanding and a recognition that we're all in this together. These are the beliefs shared by a majority of Americans.
Yet, our healthcare system does not reflect our traditions or beliefs. It needs to be changed, fundamentally. The first thing that's got to go is the for profit health insurance industry. There are some services that just shouldn't be operated under that model. There should never be a choice between giving someone treatment and saving a private company money.
Imagine if firefighting departments across America operated like HMOs. "Sorry, we're not going to put out the fire in your house. You're not pre-approved for our experimental hoses." Sounds ludicrous, of course, and that's because it's unfathomable. Entirely unacceptable. But comparable to our lousy, rotten health care system. However, public policy isn't going to change with Dubya in the White House or slim Democratic control in the U.S. Senate.
The path to reform begins with sending more Democrats, especially progressive Democrats, to Congress, and electing a president unafraid of big pharma and big insurers who. A progressive who will act to address the problems.
The path to reform involves investing locally and nationally in think tanks to study and develop the best policies, media to facilitate public dialogue about legislative proposals, and leadership organizations that can elect courageous public servants who will refuse to be bought off by corporate lobbyists.
We've got a long way to go, but luckily, every so often, we are jolted into action by a work like SiCKO. As depressing as it may be, it's powerful motivation to keep fighting and not burn out.
I've already seen SiCKO, but haven't been able to sum up my thoughts to write anything about it until today. It's hard to sum up how compelling this documentary is. Even if you've heard many healthcare horror stories, you will be still be gritting your teeth and holding back tears as you watch other Americans struggle to tell their stories of losing loved ones thanks to the beast that is the for profit health insurance industry (and the drug industry, as well).
SiCKO has reinforced my belief (if that's possible) that healthcare for everyone is a right, not a privilege. As John Kerry said in his stump speeches back in 2004, it shouldn't just be a benefit for the wealthy, the elected, and the connected.
Healthcare should be free and universal. No one should have to fight the system, or a system, to get treatment. The answer to every conservative sputter about "socialized medicine" is one word: Unacceptable. Unacceptable, unacceptable, unacceptable. Those phony arguments won't cut it.
Those scare tactics won't work. What we've got is NOT functioning.
This is the richest country on Earth. This is a community of free people. A democracy! There is no reason that any one of us - any American - should be suffering and struggling because of health care costs, because of denied claims, because of high premiums and fees. Everyone should be taken care. of Needs should be met, regardless of ability to pay.
We need a healthcare system that reflects our values. Traditional American values. Not right wing fantasies about free markets and pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. None of that libertarian, conservative nonsense. If they want to talk about family values, then let's talk about real family values.
For example, values that mean our elderly parents and grandparents should be able to stop working and retire, and not be forced to sell their homes and live with their children because of skyrocketing medical bills.
The conservative view is that everybody should be on their own. And that's how it is today with out healthcare system. Can't pay? Even if you worked to clear rubble from Ground Zero? Too bad, you're on your own. Don't have health insurance? Too bad, you're on your own. It's your fault, you didn't work hard enough. Got hit with a string of misfortunes? Too bad, you're on your own.
The progressive view is different. We believe in nurturance. We believe in protection, care, community...a common wealth. Mutual responsibility. There's an understanding and a recognition that we're all in this together. These are the beliefs shared by a majority of Americans.
Yet, our healthcare system does not reflect our traditions or beliefs. It needs to be changed, fundamentally. The first thing that's got to go is the for profit health insurance industry. There are some services that just shouldn't be operated under that model. There should never be a choice between giving someone treatment and saving a private company money.
Imagine if firefighting departments across America operated like HMOs. "Sorry, we're not going to put out the fire in your house. You're not pre-approved for our experimental hoses." Sounds ludicrous, of course, and that's because it's unfathomable. Entirely unacceptable. But comparable to our lousy, rotten health care system. However, public policy isn't going to change with Dubya in the White House or slim Democratic control in the U.S. Senate.
The path to reform begins with sending more Democrats, especially progressive Democrats, to Congress, and electing a president unafraid of big pharma and big insurers who. A progressive who will act to address the problems.
The path to reform involves investing locally and nationally in think tanks to study and develop the best policies, media to facilitate public dialogue about legislative proposals, and leadership organizations that can elect courageous public servants who will refuse to be bought off by corporate lobbyists.
We've got a long way to go, but luckily, every so often, we are jolted into action by a work like SiCKO. As depressing as it may be, it's powerful motivation to keep fighting and not burn out.
